The Pakistan U16 Boys’ National Team has departed Karachi for Kazakhstan to compete in the UEFA U-16 Boys Development Tournament 2026, marking the first time a Pakistani squad will take part in a UEFA-sanctioned event. The week-long competition runs from April 24 to April 30 at Namys Stadium in the Biik Sports Complex, and the 19-member group, selected by the national coaching staff, left from Jinnah International Airport and is due to arrive in Almaty tonight.
Pakistan U16 will test themselves against a strong field, beginning with hosts Kazakhstan on April 25, then Russia on April 27 and Azerbaijan on April 30, providing a rare chance to measure domestic talent against UEFA-affiliated sides.
The official 19-member squad includes goalkeepers Samar Razzaq and Naveed Ullah; defenders Muhammad Alam, Hamza Amjad, Maqbool Ahmed, Nadeem Hussain, Abdul Raheem Elahi and Syed Manzar Shah; midfielders M. Mustafa, M. Essa, Sagar Mehrban, Haroon Rasheed, Shahraz Khan, Abdul Samad, Hamza Yasir and M. Hanzala; and forwards Danish Masih, M. Rafay and Kaleem Ullah.
Syed Mohsen Gilani, President of the Pakistan Football Federation, described the participation as a “major breakthrough” and said “Access to European competition at this level has historically been out of reach for our young players, and that is a gap we are determined to close.” He added that the U-16 age group is where players begin to define themselves and that international exposure is essential to build character and understand global standards.
Officials expect the tournament to serve as an invaluable learning platform, offering the coaching and support staff a clear benchmark to assess technical and tactical standards and to inform long-term pathways from grassroots to elite levels as Pakistan prepares for future qualification cycles.
